An all day business meeting has left you feeling stressed out. However, your stress level goes through the roof after you discover a representative from Collection Bureau of Hudson Valley has left a message on your voicemail.
The message is simple: Collection Bureau of Hudson Valley wants to collect the balance owed on a credit card account. How do you handle receiving a phone call from a third party debt collector?
You need to refer to a landmark consumer protection law and more important, utilize the expertise of a licensed lawyer.
Enacted by the United States Congress in 1977, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) sets numerous legal guidelines that protect consumers against the unethical practices implemented by debt collection agencies.
Under, the FDCPA, Collection Bureau of Hudson Valley is permitted to call you only between 8:00 am and 9:00 pm. Any phone calls received from a third party debt collector outside of the 13-hour window is legal cause for the filing of lawsuit to collect actual damages.
Know What Information to Share
Debt collection agency representatives receive extensive training to encourage consumers to pay off outstanding debts. Months of role playing and education concerning state and federal consumer protection laws gives bill collector representatives an upper hand.
That is, if you do not enlist the help of an experienced FDCPA lawyer. Your lawyer will coach you on what to say to Collection Bureau of Hudson Valley, as well as inform you about your legal right not to reveal any information at all.
Expect a well-trained representative from a third party debt collector to read from a carefully drafted script.
You should counter with a phone script created by your consumer protection lawyer.
![Phone Script for When Collection Bureau of Hudson Valley Calls*]()
What Should You Say to Collection Bureau of Hudson Valley?
It is ultimately up to you to determine how much information you want to reveal to a representative from Collection Bureau of Hudson Valley. However, you should do two things at the beginning of a phone conversation with a debt collection agency.
First, ask the representative to wait until you turn on a tape recorder. A tape recording of a phone conversation ensures you have evidence to bring to court in case a debt collection agency crosses the legal line.
Second, you want to request proof of any delinquent balance you owe on a credit account or personal loan. Unfortunately, some third party debt collectors resort to underhanded tactics to collect consumer debts that do not exist.
When a representative from Collection Bureau of Hudson Valley calls, you want to make sure you have the tools to gain the legal advantage. Knowing your rights under the FDCPA represents a good start, but you also need to lean on a licensed consumer protection lawyer to benefit from every state and federal statute that protects consumers against unscrupulous debt collection agencies.
Speak with an accomplished FDCPA lawyer today to learn more about your legal rights when Collection Bureau of Hudson Valley calls.
Additional Resources
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be constructed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Collection Bureau of Hudson Valley or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.